Like many naïve Blue Staters, I was shocked at the number of states that passed constitutional amendments against same-sex unions last November, and the number of voters who said they supported for Bush because of his “values.”I now fully recognize that I am woefully out of touch with vast swathes of my own country.I want to learn more about the so-called “Religious Right.”How influential is the Religious Right really?How many people cast votes based upon a concern for socially conservative “values”?What motivates socially conservative Christians?Why are rigidly defined and enforced gender differences so important to them?Does the Religious Right threaten my way of life?Do they really believe that my views and my lifestyle are a threat to their way of life, and if so, is there any merit to that belief?

And, most importantly, is there anything to be gained from a respectful dialogue between feminists like me and socially conservative Christians? I am not sure, but, at the risk of seeming like a Pollyanna, I think there might be.There should be room in this country for everyone’s liberty, including the liberties of gays, feminists and social conservatives.The question is how we get there.At the very least, such a dialogue should be an interesting exercise.As I post, I invite comments from anyone who might feel moved to weigh in (assuming I have any readers!), especially from people with views quite different from my own.Just keep the tone respectful, and let’s see what we might learn from each other.

TOPICSI AM LIKELY TO ADDRESS

I will post about whatever strikes my fancy.I am likely to post about feminism (its past, present, and future), gay rights, and religious liberty.I may engage in quite a bit of navel-gazing, because I think that it aids understanding to learn how a person’s philosophy plays out in her life, and it may help me think through some personal issues.I will likely include some book reviews.I am also happy to indulge requests to post about a particular topic.